Birgitta – Angel of Rome

If ever there had been a time for someone to speak out for church and government reform, it was during the fourteenth century. The church was immersed in corruption and facing a great schism that would last for decades.

The background for this was the decision of the popes to move their seat to Avignon, France in the early thirteen hundreds. Many called this “The Babylonian Captivity”. Most of the faithful believed that the right place for the papacy was in Rome, where the church had reportedly been founded by Saint Peter. But because of the influence of the powerful French kings, the popes had lived in Avignon since 1305.

During this time, there seemed to be no monstrous activity on the part of the church leaders that was too low. Factions were all out to gain whatever power they could for themselves. And what’s more, there didn’t seem to be any men speaking out against the immorality and corruption during this time  – only two women – Catherine of Siena and Birgitta of Sweden. Catherine, a very godly woman who would later be sainted, wrote volumes of denunciations against the church. She died, worn out, at age thirty-three in 1380. She did not get to witness any reforms in her day.

The other female reformer at the time was Birgitta of Sweden. She bravely made her presence felt by the popes and political rulers with her sharp tongue and forceful, influential writing. Birgitta did not succeed in causing any reforms in the church either, but that did not stop her from hurling insults at the popes.

Birgitta began her work of reform later in life after her husband died. First, God blessed her with a family and a somewhat normal life.

Birgitta Birgersdotter was born to an aristocratic family related to the kings of Sweden and therefore had some influence at court. Birgitta was married to Ulf Gudmarsson. She had eight children and served at court for several years. When the King of Sweden, Magnus Eriksson married Blanche of Namur, he asked his kinswoman, Birgitta to come and be Lady-in Waiting and to teach the young queen the language and customs of her new country.

In 1341, Birgitta and her husband retired from public life, and they apparently discussed plans for both to enter monasteries. However, after Ulf died in about 1344, Birgitta decided to found her own religious order, called the “Order of the Holy Savior”, but more popularly known as the Brigittines. She went to Rome around 1350 to spread the word of God and to obtain approval for her order. She was now a middle-aged widow.

While in Rome she wasted no time denouncing the corruption around her. She believed that a prerequisite for the reform of the church was for the pope to remain in the Italian capital. When Pope Urban announced that he wanted to live in Avignon, she compared him to the devil saying the pope was “appointed pastor and minister of Christ’s sheep.” But now, “the pope scatters them and lacerates them. He is worse than Lucifer, more unjust than Pilate, more cruel than Judas.” Pope Urban left for Avignon anyway with her prophetic words burning his ears. “Longing for ease and comfort,” she predicted, “he will be called to account to God.” In fact, he died after a few weeks, frail and sick, at the papal palace in Avignon.

She later wrote to Pope Gregory telling him, “In thy curia arrogant pride rules, insatiable cupidity and execrable luxury. It is the very deepest gulf of horrible simony. Thou seizest and tearest from the Lord innumerable sheep.” She didn’t mince any words! She reminded him that God denounced the sins of pride, avarice, and concupiscence. Unfortunately, her words fell on deaf ears.

For the most part, Birgitta failed in her mission of reform. Her order was approved in 1370, but not according to the Rule she had written. The papacy did not return to Rome during her lifetime. There was no noticeable improvement in the lives of the leaders to whom she wrote. They were bent on continuing in their corrupt ways.

But among the people of Rome and the clergy in that city, she was seen as a “friend of God”. She lived in relative poverty, caring for the poor in a practical way with her own hands. Even those whom she castigated never questioned her sincerity. Her assistance of the poor and homeless became legendary in the city and earned her the title of “The Angel of Rome.”

Today, Birgitta is remembered for her work among the poor and her many religious writings. Her works are mostly made up of prophetic visions. Her writings are gathered in eight books where she calls for Christians to repent and reform. She believed that the church had strayed far away from the Biblical precepts of Christ and the apostles. Only through confession and obedience could Christians hope to receive God’s blessings. In the collection referred to as Revelations, she foreshadowed many of the grievances that Martin Luther would be concerned with 150 years later during the era of the Reformation.

There has been a resurgence of interest in her writings. Many of her prayers and songs had been translated and copied throughout the 1400’s. They are still readily available today.

Among her lasting accomplishments is the creation of the monastic order that still bears her name. The Society of St. Birgitta in Sweden is a laypersons’ organization that works among the poor after her example.

Birgitta had much influence in her day. She was a Swedish noblewoman with many friends in high places. Her words could not be lightly ignored. Though remaining a resident of Rome in her later life, she traveled widely, and many rulers, both on the throne of the church and the thrones of kingdoms, felt the impact of her words. God raised her up during a time of need to be a voice in the wilderness. She did not shirk her task.